11 Butterfly and Life Cycle Activity Ideas for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade

One of the most engaging ways for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to learn about a butterfly’s life cycle is to observe the transformation firsthand. Butterfly kits make this very easy by providing you with caterpillars and a habitat for watching the entire metamorphosis unfold. Of course, there is always a risk – sometimes larvae don’t survive, and students may need help processing their disappointing. Still, nothing compares to witnessing the dramatic changes from caterpillar to butterfly in real life.

Make the experience even more meaningful by integrating science and writing. Have your upper elementary students keep daily observation journals, recording what they see and reflecting on the changes throughout each stage.

If raising live butterflies isn’t possible in your classroom classroom, then have them watch this video instead. It shows the entire life cycle in detail and without any commentary, giving students a chance to simply observe.